The Boat That Rocked (Rocketshipping Fanfic)
Part Fifteen
Jaime believed in James - of course she did - but his story seemed so unique. So farfetched. A member of Team Rocket, lost at sea, a brain tumour, memory loss, moving to the city, becoming a contact of one of the men of the shadows. Running away.
It felt like fate that she had chosen this island to move to. This was where James' new life had started, where he had woken up and become a new person.
I wonder where those other two are? The woman and the Meowth.
Jaime walked faster, seeing the small department store ahead. She pushed the thoughts out of her head and moved quickly between the shops, buying clothes, bed covers, even investing in a small digital camera and a photo album so they could document their new life together. Physical memories. Things that can't be forgotten.
It bothered her.
The fact that James had forgotten his entire life bothered her. What if he forgets me one day? What if the tumour returns and I become no one to him?
Another fear rose in her chest. What if the tumour returns and I lose him?
She gritted her teeth, grabbing the receipt from the store clerk, throwing a 'thanks' over her shoulder as she left the shop.
Jaime was blind to her surroundings as she walked back to the apartment, the sudden feeling that James wouldn't be there if she didn't rush home was overwhelming.
Jaime found herself falling heavily to the ground, her shopping bags strewn around her, her leg that she had landed on stinging with the impact.
She glanced around and realized she was outside the port, the sea glittering in the dying sunlight. She looked at her feet and saw what had tripped her up.
Her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry!" She stood up, wincing at the pain in her leg, and bent down to pick the Pokémon up. "Are you okay?"
The Pokémon turned gleaming eyes on her, its expression cold and empty. Well, at least it doesn't look in pain.
She settled it back down on the ground, carefully placing it on all fours. To her surprise, it immediately stood up on two legs and looked up to glare at her. "You should watch where you're goin'."
Jaime's mouth fell open, and then closed, and then opened again, no words or noises escaping her lips.
"You look like a fish." The Pokémon said sarcastically. Sarcastically? How does a Pokémon even speak?!
"You're a Meowth, right?" she finally managed to ask.
"Yeah," Its tail whipped to the side. "Now, I'm on my way home so if you could move it…"
"Ah, er, yeah." Jaime picked up her scattered bags and stood aside, watching the cat Pokémon run up the road, only falling to all fours as it turned the corner.
"Well…that's something new." She mumbled.
She started walking when it the realization hit her. Wait…a Meowth that can talk?
Jaime stopped, a numb sensation crawling up her spine. She then started running, following the direction she had seen the Pokémon in, seeing the white cat dash ahead in the distance.
She followed the Meowth and stopped when she saw it turn, rushing up a set of stairs. "What?" she mumbled. "What is this?"
Jaime was stood outside their apartment block, watching the Meowth run up to the third floor, stopping at the far end and knocking at the door with a paw. It opened, a red-haired woman smiling down at the Pokémon, her lips moving in a 'welcome home.'
I wonder where the other two are? I have my answer in front of me. The other two had never left, they had stayed here, right here. It was James that had changed, who had left.
Ah, James, you know this, right? You know that your Team Rocket friends are living above us.
Why didn't you tell me?
Why?
-#-
James was still sat at the kitchen table, his head laid down on the cool wood, when Jaime returned. He listened to her walk into the kitchen, setting down bags on the floor, her steps growing closer and stopping at him.
He kept his eyes closed, maintaining a steady breathing rate. He felt her hand stroke his hair and a feeling of calm settled over him.
He opened his eyes and looked up, his lips spread into a smile, rising slightly so to give her a ki- "Jaime?!"
He shot up, grabbing hold of her shoulders, panic choking him. "Jaime? What happened?"
She's crying. Why is she crying?
"Why didn't you tell me?" her voice was so quiet that James had to strain to hear her.
"Tell you what?"
"She's here."
Those two words sent a lightning bolt through him, causing him to step back, his arms falling to his sides. "Who's here?" His voice was dead. He knew exactly who she meant.
"That Team Rocket woman. The Meowth. They live upstairs."
How did she find out? What happened while she out?
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked again, her tears falling silently, the pain in her expression so clear to see.
James touched her face, carefully wiping away the tears. "What would you have done if I had?"
"Nothing," she shook her head. "I would have done nothing."
"Why…Why are you crying?"
"There's only one reason why you would hide this, James."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You don't want her to find out. You're hiding me from her, and you're hiding her from me." She looked up at him, her sad, knowing smile sending a chill down his spine. "She looks exactly like me."
"What?" That confused him. He had never considered the two to be the same.
Jaime covered his hands with her own. "Her face – it's just like mine."
"You've met her?"
She shook her head. "No, I just saw her. Don't worry, she didn't see me."
He ground his teeth. "Jaime, you're misunderstanding something. I love you. I love you for who you are. It has nothing to do with Jessie."
She laughed, the sound harsh and ugly. "We even have similar names."
How is that similar? I don't understand. Why is she twisting everything? James moved closer, pulling her into a hug, her head resting against his chest. Why did I keep this a secret? What was my reason?
"I didn't want to hurt her." He said softly.
"What?" Jaime shifted in his arms, looking up at him.
"I said nothing because it would hurt her."
Jaime stared at him, waiting, her expression empty, her eyes suddenly dry.
"I've caused her enough pain – I can't remember her, I can't remember what we've done, who she is...There's nothing in here." He tapped the side of his head. "I hurt her every day. She didn't want me, she wanted someone long gone. That's why I left. I couldn't meet her expectations."
Jaime moved away, breaking out of his hold. "Does she love you?"
The question stunned him. Does she love me?
"I-I don't know."
"Do you love her?"
"I don't," he answered. "I love you. I don't even know who she is."
He grabbed her wrist and stepped towards her, bringing his lips to hers and kissing her. I love Jaime.
I love her.
Right?